March 19: Enjoying a break

Tomorrow is the Mets’ first day off of the spring after 32 straight days of work.
Willie Randolph said he would enjoy time “away from you knuckleheads,’’ meaning us writers. No malice, but probably a twinge of sincerity.
When asked what he would do tomorrow in Port St. Lucie, Carlos Delgado said, “I won’t be in Port St. Lucie.’’
“I enjoy my private time,’’ pitching coach Rick Peterson said.
A lot of Mets with offseason homes in Florida hit the road right after the game. Others will hit a golf course for one of the last times before breaking camp.
One of the things about the Mets’ camp, and it probably is like this everywhere, is you never know who you’ll run into.
I stepped out of the clubhouse for not five minutes the other day to take a phone call, and when I came back there was Rusty Staub. Talking about wine, of course, with Steve Trachsel.
Jim Burt Jr., the son of the Giants’ nose tackle, Jim Burt, is a minor leaguer and took batting practice today against Pedro Martinez.
“I grew up a Yankees fan,’’ said Burt, who no, did not volunteer that information to Martinez.

John Delcos enters his third season covering the Mets for The Journal News after eight seasons on the Yankees beat. Prior to coming to New York, John covered the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians.